Matt Forster

This is the camping guidebook I have been searching for since I discovered, about 15 years ago, just how amazing camping can be... except when you're pitched next to scores of other folks, mostly in campers and RVs. Best Tent Camping Michigan is the guide I always thought should have been written and would have wanted to write myself, except it's better. Attractively laid out, informative, campsite maps, and useful ratings covering the important stuff like 'beauty' and 'privacy'. Worst thing show more about the book: everyone else may discover the best tent camping grounds, too. But, hey, tent campers are way cooler than trailer campers any day. :) show less

I was fortunate to receive this book through the Early Reviewers program and I am highly impressed by it. The level of detail is amazing. Forster tells everything you might possibly want to know about each of the parks he reviews (fifty of them!), right down to campsite maps with comments on which campsites are most highly recommended and why and GPS coordinates to make campgrounds easier to find. Contact information with phone numbers and websites is grouped conveniently at the end of the show more book. And just in case you're out of practice or haven't thought about camping since last year, there's even a camping equipment checklist. This book arrived conveniently right before our cross-continental camping odyssey which involved tent camping in Michigan and we were able to check out a wonderful campground, secluded but not too far from our route, which we would otherwise have never found. The author's comments on this state forest campground we used were accurate and helpful. I notice that there are also companion volumes for 27 other states and areas, some of which I definitely plan to acquire before planning our next extended trip.

Update: It's 2021 and due to the Covid border closure, I haven't been tent camping in Michigan since 2019. As foretold by some other reviewers, financial constraints have seriously compromised the Michigan state park system. In 2019, we found some campsites closed -- and renumbered! -- and sometimes entire campground loops no longer open. The very worst was that occasionally we found a campground loop still in existence but lacking basic amenities like a water pump. I made notes all over the 2011 maps in my book. But it's still useful. show less

I received this tent camping guide via the Early Reviewer program and I must say, I am impressed. Instead of flashy pictures that are usually deceiving anyway, this little booklet is chock full of very useful information and advice. Quite obviously, Mr Forster, the author, knows exactly what he is talking about. Plus, his style is refreshing and a pleasure to read... He must have done a lot of tent camping in Michigan in his life.

Every campsite is described in detail, recommendations go down show more to individual tent sites he would prefer. Here is an example: "The best site of the bunch has to be site 1(...). I also think sites 24 and 26 are pretty nice, tucked into trees as they are." He includes information about the surroundings of the campsite too, whether it is in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of a busy, tourist-y lake shore, for example, or how far it is to the next shopping facility or restaurant.

Along with the usual important key information you would want to have in advance about the campsite of your choice: fees, restrictions, dates of operation facilities, how to get there (including coordinates for GPS users), you find the author's ratings for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quietness, safety, security and cleanliness of the campsite. He also has a short summary-quote on the side so that the quote, the ratings and the key information are all there at one glance. Of course there is a map in the front that shows you the general location of each campsite, and each individual description comes with a map of the campsite itself.

Last but not least: The book(let) is a rather slim edition, which means that, even if you have only limited space in your luggage, this guide should and can go with you on your camping trip.

To cut a long story short: This tent camping guide makes me want to grab husband, children, tent, backpacks, cooler and dog, and head for Michigan to go tent camping - right now :) show less

I requested this book because we were moving to Ohio and are mostly unfamiliar with the outdoor fun available in the surrounding areas. Although I generally prefer back country camping to car camping, this is a great guide for camping enthusiasts, whether you're looking for easy, kid-friendly areas or more scenic, lonesome and quiet spots.

The guide is broken down by geographic areas - Southeast Michigan, Southwest Michigan, etc, but it also has a handy index just after the Table of Contents show more which breaks alternatives down by what they are good for: fishing, scenic beauty, hiking, kids, etc. This extra index is a must for people who, for example, want to avoid crowded, "family-friendly" campgrounds, or for people who are looking for specific outdoors activities (canoeing, hiking, cycling, etc). For each camping area listed in the guide, you're provided with a map of the camp grounds, ratings for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security, and cleanliness. You also get a nice summary of the area, what the primary attractions are, and a listing of important facts such as price, registration requirements, what is included in your camp site, and pet permissions. There are also (somewhat general) directions to each campground, but generally Google maps or another online resource is going to be your best bet for that. The one thing I've noticed about the guide that I find a little frustrating is that the author tends to give pretty high ratings for each dimension (privacy, quiet, etc) for just about every campground. The lowest rating I've seen for anything is 3/5, which given the overall high ratings provided I have to interpret as being pretty low on his metric.

Overall, a handy guide for those in Michigan and the surrounding areas who have an interest in doing a good bit of camping in the area. show less